Effect of moisture stress on morpho-physiological and yield contributing traits of rabi sorghum genotypes under rainfed condition

The experiment entitled, “Morpho-physiological analysis of rabi Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes under drought tolerance” was conducted with 14 genotypes of rabi Sorghum. The experiment was carried out under unprotected i.e. rainfed condition. The experiment was conducted during rabi season 2023-2024 at Sorghum Research Station, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani. Under rainfed conditions, the genotype PMER-5-21 exhibited the tallest plant height at harvest (281.50 cm), while RSV-2589 had the shortest (243.33 cm). In terms of dry matter production, Phule Vasudha showed the highest total dry matter weight at 50% flowering (141.36 gm), while RSV-2589 had the lowest (108.28 gm). At harvest, PVR-983 achieved the highest total dry matter weight (196.38 gm), contrasting with RSV-2589’s lower value (132.51 gm). Phenological observations revealed that PVR- 983 took the longest time to reach 50% flowering (77.17 days), and M-35-1 had the shortest (69.17 days). In physiological traits, Parbhani Super Moti had the highest relative leaf water content at 50% flowering (84.45%), while PKV Kranti recorded the lowest (70.79%). The highest grain yield was achieved by Phule Vasudha (4001.32 kg/ha), whereas RSV-2589 recorded the lowest (2883.60 kg/ha).